by Megan Derr
The way he had been thrown overboard like so much garbage. Rage, he remembered that. He had flown into a rage that they had hurt Kin, possibly killed him. After that rage, however, he remembered nothing. "How did I change back?" he asked, still not able to tear his hands from his face.
"I—I don't think I can explain that, if you do not remember. It involved Taka," Kin said quietly. "You will have to … you really do not remember?"
Kyo finally moved his hands and stared up at Kin. "No. What does Taka have to do with this?"
"More than you could possibly realize," Kin muttered, looking away, exhaustion etching lines in his face. Kyo reached up—then snatched his hand back when he realized what he was doing.
Clothes, he decided. It was long past time he obtained clothes. Thank the storms that nothing—nothing untoward—had happened. "I do not suppose it would be possible for someone to fetch me clothes at some point?"
"You did not strike me as the modest sort, highness," Kin said, smirking.
Kyo tried to think of a response to that, but simply could not. His brain seemed frustratingly incapable of thinking when Kin was close enough to touch and every last bit of him was bare. Kyo glared at him. "So if you do not think me modest, Captain, what exactly do you take me for? A harlot?"
"Isn't that the same thing as royal?" Kin retorted, and Kyo could tell he was doing it just to be annoying—and weren't they supposed to be having a serious discussion?
"I may be a prince, but I am also a priest," Kyo replied coolly.
Kin sneered. "Every royal is automatically a priest."
"Technically speaking, no, they are not," Kyo replied. "All members of the royal family are called 'priests of honor' meaning they accept that their place was divinely bestowed, that they worship always the memory of the lost gods, but they are not priests, in fact. I am, as being the youngest affords me the luxury of that decision, though I would have to surrender the vows whenever I marry."
Something flashed, hot and bright, in Kin's eyes, making it suddenly hard for Kyo to breathe. What was that look? He was used to men and women wanting him, but the lightning that flashed in Kin's eyes was nothing like the looks he normally saw. He didn't even know that desire was precisely the word; Kin had never shown any such interest in him before.
Kyo really wished he had clothes and was grateful the blankets mostly covered him up to the waist. They did not, however, cover Kin even a little bit, and Kyo looked hastily away. "I would be grateful if you could provide me with clothes, Captain."
"So haughty," Kin said. "I might have known you would wake offended. I don't know why I thought—" He cut the words off and started to climb out of the bunk.
Kin stared up at him. "Why you thought what?"
"Nothing, highness," Kin snapped and crouched down. After a moment, Kyo remembered there were drawers beneath the bunk. "Here," Kin said, and he threw a tunic at Kyo, followed by breeches and a bright blue sash. Kin's clothes. They'd be far too big on Kyo, but they would work until he could get to his own. Kin stood up again, more clothes in his hands, and froze when they heard shouting outside.
Heaving a sigh of annoyance, Kin dropped his clothes on top of the ones he had given Kyo and picked up the pair of dark gray breeches he'd chosen to pull them on. Kyo tried to make himself move, but simply couldn't, only gripped the clothes given to him and watched Kin, already sorry he was hiding that beautiful body away again.
As though feeling eyes on him, Kin stopped short of fastening the breeches, jerked his gaze up and caught Kyo staring. "Something the matter—" he broke off abruptly and frowned in puzzlement. "What happened to your necklace?"
"What?" Kyo asked, fighting an urge to reach for the pendant he knew wasn't there because it was currently under his pillow. "What necklace?"
"You're lying," Kin said, staring at him in surprise. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Where is it?"
Tossing his head, Kyo drew upon his most arrogant tone and replied. "I think you should cease to concern yourself with my baubles, Captain, be they real or imagined."
Kin muttered something Kyo did not quite catch—then moved, making Kyo gasp in surprise when Kin shoved him down into the bedding, made his mouth go dry when Kin straddled him. His heart thudded in his chest, and he was not entirely certain he was still breathing. "Where is the necklace, Kyo, and why are you hiding it?"
Kyo tried to come up with a response that would put Kin off, and really, any other day he would have driven him off with a few well-chosen and carefully aimed words. Why would none of those words come to him? He licked his lips, trying to make them work.
Leaning down closer, so they were barely a breath apart, Kin repeated, "Where is the necklace?"
"None of your business, Captain," Kyo replied. "Get off me."
"Not until you tell me what you did with it."
Kyo glared at him and tried to speak and rise up at the same time—a movement that only resulted in a clumsy collision of lips and noses that made him jerk back, and he hated himself for the way he could feel his cheeks turn red. "Get. Off. Me."
In reply, Kin just regarded him pensively. Kyo glared back and wondered if it was time to use magic to remove Kin. But he could still feel that brief moment where their lips had touched. It was the closest to a real kiss he had ever been, and the sadness that poured over him drowned out every other thought in his head.
Above him, Kin made a rough, ragged noise—and then bent, his mouth sliding over Kyo's in a real kiss. Kyo froze, not certain what to do, hazily aware he needed to shove Kin off him and escape. But then a tongue definitely not his own stroked over his lips, and Kyo opened them in surprise. He made a soft, whimpering noise as Kin's kiss deepened, and despite knowing he shouldn't, Kyo began to try and return it.
Well. That certainly explained what all the fuss was about. Kyo reached up to hesitantly touch, fingers feather light on Kin's arm. He shivered as Kin shifted above him, legs sliding together, along with their cocks, and that realization made him shudder.
Kin drew back, frowning, and suddenly Kyo just didn't want to hear it—any of it. Anything. For once in his storming life, couldn’t the rest of the world wait? He reared up, clumsily taking Kin's mouth again and wrapping one arm around his neck.
Making a startled noise, Kin nevertheless went with it, looping an arm around Kyo's waist and pulling him close, leaning down into the kiss at the same time, bowing Kyo's back. He clung tightly, lost in a haze as Kin took his mouth, tongues tangling before he drew back to suck on Kyo's lip, graze it with his teeth, then dive right back into the deep kisses.
Kyo didn't want it to stop because the moment it did everything he didn't want to face would return. He protested when Kin's arm slid away, but immediately relaxed when he realized it was just so Kin could strip his breeches off again. Naked, Kin pressed Kyo down into the bedding, cover Kyo with his body. Kyo groaned into Kin's mouth as their cocks slid together, shivering in Kin's arms, nails biting into his skin.
The sound of the door banging open made them jerk apart, and they stared at each other for a single moment before whipping their heads around to stare at the door, both drawing breath to shout the intruder out.
Except whatever Kyo was going to say died when he realized the intruder was none other than Captain Midori. Above him, Kin made a growling noise, and Kyo was surprised and yet not to see that his scales and too-sharp teeth had appeared. It made him shiver, seeing Kin that way, but his mortification over being caught in bed was greater.
"Get out," Kin snarled. "I do not know who the dragons' you think you are, but you do not burst uninvited into the Captain's quarters!"
Midori tore his shocked stare away from Kyo to level an icier expression on Kin. "I am Captain Midori of the Royal Navy. You and every man on this ship are under arrest. I go where I please, Captain."
Kin pushed away from Kyo, covering him with the blankets before standing up, naked and proud and beautiful. "I have broken no laws, and if you want to place me under arre
st, you are certainly welcome to try. But whatever my status on my own ship, you are being rude to his highness and know it. Unless he bids you stay—"
"Captain! Captain! We found his highness!"
Two royal sailors came barging inside, dragging along a man— Kyo's heart dropped into his stomach when he saw himself. How was that possible? The man stared at him, and Kyo knew who he was just by that expression on his face. He would know that expression anywhere. "Taka," he said and sat up, casting aside his blankets and standing up beside Kin. "Unhand him at once," he ordered.
The two sailors dropped Taka immediately, and Taka's curse as he caught himself on hands and knees might have been a shout, the room became so quiet.
Captain Midori looked between them then finally said, "What in the dragons' names is going on here?"
"I should think that is obvious, Captain," Kyo said coolly. "You are interfering. Get out. I will address you and your presence here when I see fit. Whatever you have done to the others aboard this ship, undo it immediately. You will treat them as you would me, or you suffer for it. Send one of your men to fetch clothes from my trunk, the sailors can direct you. Now get out."
"Yes, highness," Midori said, and he jerked his head at the two gawking sailors. They fled, Midori close on their heels, leaving the three of them alone.
Kyo crossed the room and helped Taka to his feet, holding tightly to his hands, staring in disbelief. "What is going on?" he whispered. "What happened that I do not remember? Taka …"
Taka shook his head, trying to withdraw, and clearly he had spent more than a little bit of time crying to judge by the rawness of his eyes. Kyo jerked him close and held him tightly. "It's all right, Taka." Shuddering, Taka held him tightly and resumed crying again. Kyo could feel the tears on his skin, and they triggered his anger.
If he had not already resolved to destroy his family, what had been done to Taka—to them—would have firmed that resolve. He began trembling himself as he realized that he had a twin brother. Right in front of his face the entire time, and he had never even noticed. Kyo prided himself on his magical ability, but he had never noticed that there had been a spell on Taka.
Drawing back, he cupped Taka's face and wiped his tears away. It was more than a little strange to be staring at his own reflection—even their hair was, at present, nearly the same length. A twin. His mind reeled with the knowledge. "How did the spell break?"
"It began to fracture when you turned into a dragon. At my bidding, Krasny finished the breaking with his own magic. He used a fire feather. You turned back when it happened, and then we passed out. Don't you remember?"
Kyo shook his head. "The last thing I remember is Kin being thrown overboard after the mermaids stabbed him. When did the royal navy—" He stopped when a familiar rapping came at the door. Kin went to answer it, and Raiden stepped inside holding a pile of clothes. He snorted in amusement when he saw Kin and Kyo still standing naked. "Should I strip?" he asked dryly. "I feel overdressed."
Rolling his eyes, Taka snatched the clothes away and laid them out neatly on the table, then began to help Kyo dress. Raiden must have made the selection because a sailor would not have taken such care to ensure the ensemble went together—or known to pick one meant to intimidate. "Why are there two outfits?" Taka asked, puzzled.
"Because there are two princes needing to be dressed," Raiden replied.
"I'm not—"
Kyo covered Taka's hand, stopping him. "Yes, you are. We're twins, Taka. I could cheerfully murder my parents right now for not telling me about this—not telling us about this—but you are a prince, and you will be treated as is your due."
"I don't want to be a prince," Taka said softly.
"Neither do I," Kyo replied. "Come on, then. Help me change, and then I will help you."
Raiden had chosen well, choosing outfits there were nearly mirror opposites of one another. Kyo's robe was a deep sea-green trimmed in various shades of blue with a sash of blue embroidered with silver starfish. When they finally got Taka to change, he wore a robe of deep blue with a dark green sash embroidered with gold fish.
"You look stunning, highness," Raiden said, smiling crookedly at Taka.
Taka ignored him, sitting down at the table and looking as though he had been left adrift at sea and knew there was no hope of reaching land. Raiden went over to him and rested a hand on his shoulder, but Taka jerked back and turned away from him.
Raiden sighed softly and left him alone, turning to face Kyo. "I arranged for wine and food to be brought."
"I am astonished they let you in here."
"They had no choice after you issued orders the ship was to be treated as they would treat you."
Kyo nodded. "At least they are listening to me, for the time being anyway. When did they arrive, and why did none of us notice?"
"There's heavy fog, and we're dead in the water. What remains of the crew was exhausted from burying the other half at sea. They snuck up in a longboat. No one saw them until too late."
"Dead in the water?" Kyo repeated, frowning. "That is my fault. I will get us moving again once we are rid of the navy." He had hoped he would be able to control his magic better; the fog and lack of wind were definitely because of him. He did not dare contemplate what would happen if he could not control the magic.
Which reminded him he needed his necklace back around his throat. Of course, thinking of the necklace reminded him it was under his pillow, which in turn reminded him of what had just been happening in Kin's bunk.
His cheeks flushed, and he shoved the thoughts aside. "Tell me everything that happened after the mermaids boarded. I recall nothing and need to know it."
A knock came at the door, and two sailors brought in trays of food, trying and failing not to stare between Kyo and Taka. When they finally left, Kin followed them out, muttering something about checking on his men. Taking the opportunity, Kyo moved to the bed and retrieved his necklace. Pulling it over his head, he stuffed it beneath his robe, feeling as though a weight had lifted off his chest.
Returning to the table, Kyo poured wine and passed the pitcher off to Raiden. "Tell me what I have forgotten," he ordered again.
Raiden did so, and Kyo winced when he realized that once the magic had gotten control of him he had gone straight to being overprotective of Kin. It only made sense, of course, given how much he wished …
But he'd had his stolen moment, however too brief it had been. Memories of the recent kisses, of Kin pressing him down into the bed, tried to well up, but he ruthlessly shoved them back down again. He could not afford to think about it. He'd had his moment, and his moment was over. At least he would have something to think about as he lay dying.
For the present, his problem was Midori and how to get rid of him. Mortification clawed at him, recalling the way Midori had burst in to see him rolling shamelessly in the sheets with Kin. He wished the bastard had shown up several minutes later, or better still, not at all.
"What a mess this storm has left behind," he said with a sigh. "I never did come up with a good reason for running away."
"I think you should be more concerned with explaining why you stole the Eye, highness," Raiden said.
Kyo conceded the point with a grimace. "One problem at a time. How are Krasny and Culebra?"
"Fine," Raiden said. "Captain Midori ascertained why they were on the ship and promptly withdrew, promising his assistance to them. I think if we can manage it, leaving them with Captain Midori would be a good idea. I just do not know how we will get away from them. Midori has not explicitly said so, but from what he has said, highness, my impression is that his orders are to take you by whatever means necessary and force you to carry out the duty you are avoiding."
"That sounds about on par," Kyo said, stifling a sigh. He looked up when Kin entered, heart giving a lurch. Finally dressed, Kin was beautiful in that rough, raw way of his. He looked like a storm come to life, dressed in gray and black, a sash of silver with thin, wavy bands of blue, b
lack, and gray threaded through it. His black pearl earring gleamed, and his skin looked whiter than ever.
It reminded Kyo like a fist to the gut of their recent activities. Kin caught his eye, and Kyo jerked away, fumbling briefly with his wine cup before he managed to grasp it properly and lift it. "Have Captain Midori brought in to join us, then. Let us see what can be done to clean up this mess." His gaze flicked to Taka. "After we are rid of the royal navy, we will focus on larger problems."
Raiden nodded and rose. Kin eyed them a moment, then followed Raiden back out.
"Taka," Kyo said softly.
"I don't want to be a prince!" Taka said, slamming his wine down, and would it ever stop being strange to watch himself throw Taka's fits? The entire thing left Kyo feeling as though he were in a dream. "I'm not a prince—I'm your secretary! No, I'm not that either." Taka gave a sad, bitter laugh. "I don't know what I am, anymore."
Kyo stood up and moved around the table, then slid an arm across Taka's shoulders. "You're my only friend, Taka. The only person I ever wanted to call friend. More family to me than those who are blood related. If I was going to wind up with a surprise twin, I cannot think of anyone better. You're still Taka, whatever else you might be. Now, stop sulking and help me scare off Captain Midori. It pains me to admit it, but I never did come up with a good excuse."
The door opened again, and Raiden and Kin returned. "Midori is aboard his own ship, which just arrived. He will be here momentarily and begs your highnesses' forgiveness for being late to answer your summons."
Shrugging the words off, Kyo said, "That will give us more time to come up with a reason for my running away." He grimaced. "Something I should have devised some time ago."
"We took care of that," Taka said.
Kyo frowned. "What do you mean?"
Taka looked up, sharing a look with Raiden, who strode to the desk and pulled out a bundle of papers. "Do not pitch us overboard for it," he said with a smirk as he handed the papers over. Kyo took them, jaw dropping when he realized what they'd done. "You forged a marriage between Kin and me?"
